Individualism in Social Science

'this book is one of the most accomplished works critiquing Methodological Individualism that has appeared anywhere ... the book will deservedly establish a major international reputation for the author ... Setting such a high standard, however, can be both rewarding and frustrating. Rewarding in obvious ways and frustrating because mediocrity is rarely comfortable recognising excellence.' Achin Vanaik, Indian Express, May 1993 'This is a dense, scholarly work. Though its focus is precise, it touches upon a number of crucial debates in philosophy. The author introduces remarkable conceptual clarity in teasing out various strands of methodological individualism.' Jyotirmay Sharma, Financial Express, March 1993 'certainly the most sophisticated and thorough work written from an anti-individualistic point of view ... The book's most admirable property is its judiciousness.' The Philosophical Quarterly, 1994 `a very good book ... one that is clear, very carefully argued, well-organized, with a firm mastery of the relevant literature, and breath-taking from cover to cover. ... his presentations are always sufficiently detailed and his re-constructions precise and sophisticated. ... he certainly succeeds in reassembling the issues which urgently deserve careful examination by social scientists and philosophers and, in so doing, is setting the agenda for new debates in contemporary social science. I strongly recommend the book to every one who thinks that something can be improved in that domain, and still more strongly to those who think the opposite.' Canadian Journal of Philosophy, vol.26, no.2, June 1996